Overheard at GMM HQ

WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS BUZZING ABOUT

NEW MITOCHONDRIA, WHO DIS?

Mitochondria, known by high school biology students the world over as the powerhouse of the cell, has been mutated by scientists in Alabama to successfully speed up the aging process in mice. But wait! There's more! They were also able to reverse the mitochondrial mutation which in turn reversed the aging process. You've come a long way, baby.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH? IS THAT YOU?

Maybe. The mice's wrinkled skin and greying/thinning hair returned to their youthful glory when their mitochondria was restored, demonstrating not only that mitochondria is a key component of aging, but also that some symptoms of aging can be reversed by reviving the mitochondria back to their original function. How long do we have to wait for this to be put into a pill, approved by the FDA, and made available at least 60 days prior to my next high school reunion?

THE 411

Your biology teacher had it right: Mitochondria really are tiny little powerhouses. While humans are still a ways off from having access to the age-reversing benefits observed in mice, this research lays the groundwork for potential therapeutic and preventive drugs down the line.

SAME OPERATING ROOM, NEW ROBOT

The Senhance Surgical System, the first robotic system to include surgeon eye tracking to control the camera and haptic feedback, was recently used by Florida Hospital to successfully remove 14 inches from the lower intestine of a patient suffering from bleeding ulcers. Continuing the trend, Taiwanese scientists recently unveiled a new type of smart surgical glasses that could give surgeons the ability to see inside a patient's body during surgery.

THE EYES HAVE IT

Meanwhile back in Florida, Dr. DeBeche-Adams performed the surgery at Florida Hospital from the comfort of an ergonomically designed console, viewing inside the patient's body via 3D HD visualization and using her eyes to activate the laparoscopic camera during surgery. This marks the beginning of a new era of minimally invasive surgery called digital laparoscopy.

THE 411

As the challenges of value-based healthcare push for technology innovation, finally surgeons and hospitals can have their cake and eat it too.

BIRTH CONTROL 2.0

Welcome to 2018, where the latest form of birth control can be found... in the app store. Natural Cycles utilizes an algorithm that analyzes a user's temperature alongside factors like sperm survival, temperature fluctuations and cycle irregularities to detect ovulation and fertility. What the automobile is to the horse and buggy is what this is to the rhythm method.

YES, IT REALLY DOES PREVENT PREGNANCY

Maybe even better than the pill. The app had a "perfect use" failure rate of 1.8 percent in clinical studies that involved more than 15,500 women, or a "typical use" failure rate of 6.5 percent, according to the FDA, while most contraception pills have a "typical use" failure rate of approximately 9 percent.

THE 411

With a recent green light from the FDA, natural family planning has officially been monetized and put in an app store near you. Keep that software updated, ok ladies?